There are more troubles for the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido, as three shareholders of the defunct Intercontinental Bank have dragged him before a Federal High Court alleging wrongdoing in the way the bank was sold.
The shareholders: Abdullahi Sani, Adaeze Onwuegbusi and Chijioke Ezeipke through their lawyers, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) are demanding the sum of N10 billion as special and general damages against Sanusi for breaches culminating in the wrongful take over of Intercontinental Bank Plc by Access Bank.
Also joined in the suit are the CBN and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.
The plaintiffs also want the court to order CBN to immediately recover the sum of N25.1 billion together with interest still being owed by the trio of Mr. Aig-Aigboje Imokhuede, Mr. Herbert Wigwe and Senator Bukola Saraki.
When the matter came up yesterday, the plaintiffs counsel, Uche prayed the court for leave to serve Sanusi through a substituted means on the grounds that his present place of abode after his suspension was not known.
Uche further prayed the court to serve the application on Sanusi through his last office address at the CBN and that the application should be pasted on the notice board or be given to an adult in the bank.
In his short ruling, the trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed granted the plaintiffs prayer and ordered that the court process be served on Sanusi through his last office address at the CBN.
He later adjourned till May 14 for hearing.
He later adjourned till May 14 for hearing.
In their originating summons, the plaintiffs are praying for an order of the court that the take over of Intercontinental Bank by Access Bank on the scheme, direction and instruction of Sanusi without lawful justification whatsoever is null and void.
They said Sanusi took the action in a bid to confer corrupt advantage upon himself and his friends/associates/cronies to the investment detriment of the plaintiffs and infringement of their personal rights.
They said Sanusi took the action in a bid to confer corrupt advantage upon himself and his friends/associates/cronies to the investment detriment of the plaintiffs and infringement of their personal rights.
The plaintiffs also want the court to mandate SEC as the official and apex regulator of the Nigerian Capital Market acting under her power pursuant to Section 13 of the Investments and Securities Act 2007 to conduct detailed public investigation into the circumstances relating to and connected with the sales of the shares, assets and securities of Intercontinental Bank to Access Bank.
Source | ThisDay
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